Tickles Lotus Elise S1 111s
Discussion
Not many updates for a while. Car has been SORN over winter in its new home and that's about it.
I managed to change the rubber seal on the rear window, easy job and cost under £5.
Sods law it snowed after taxing it, maybe I will get chance to give it a run before a service and proper spring clean.... if spring comes!
I managed to change the rubber seal on the rear window, easy job and cost under £5.
Sods law it snowed after taxing it, maybe I will get chance to give it a run before a service and proper spring clean.... if spring comes!
Diesel Meister said:
itcaptainslow said:
Like the garage!
Lovely car, great thread. Thanks for sharing!
In between house, work and family stuff I have managed to get a few cosmetic bits done on the car, mainly the replacement of rubber seals.
First, as mentioned in my last post was the rear window seal. This was easy enough, just needed effort to remove the old adhesive off the frame. I also polished the glass into the edges, even though this can't be seen it's nice to know it is done.
Before:
After:
I was going to attempt to do the door/window seals but I got these done whilst it was in for a service at Phoenix. The old ones were backed with mild steel so over time bubbled and corroded. The new ones are made better and not on a shoe string budget as the OEM ones! As always after a service and fettle at Phoenix the car felt tight on the (mundane) run home.
Finally, I gave it a proper spring scrub. I felt like it had been neglected in the garage over the winter especially with my time preoccupied on other things. For anyone interested, Zaino Z-2 pro show car sealant is doing a decent job on my Titanium paint.
Edited by Tickle on Saturday 31st March 09:44
FELIX_5 said:
I'm impressed you managed to change that smiley from plain silver to union jack colours, great trick!! 
Ha, just noticed that. Yes, you are correct it's the reverse smiley. I did clean the back, honest...my finger nails and Shell V-Power card may never recover from it!- Disclaimer, yes I realise it's the reverse of the sticker.......
Cheers for the comments.
Finally got a nice morning for a run out, it was very long over due.
A great mix of cars, combined with the dry weather, amazing roads; you can't get better mornings really... for me anyway.
Even managed a couple of higher pics, as you can see not a cloud in the sky which is quite rare on that section of road!
A great mix of cars, combined with the dry weather, amazing roads; you can't get better mornings really... for me anyway.
Even managed a couple of higher pics, as you can see not a cloud in the sky which is quite rare on that section of road!
Edited by Tickle on Sunday 22 April 09:14
Sillyhatday said:
That first image of your cars all lined up is brill. The calm before the storm when you all go charging through the roads once more.
What road is that you took from high up?
After the unobstructed roads on the run down we planned to park up on that look-out-point to use the drone (that's how we got the pics). What road is that you took from high up?
Aston Martin had some filming to do so the cars had an extended cool down with that unmistakable 'ticking' noise from hot cars.
When out in the Elise over the weekend I noticed a new rattle, not a rare occurrence on an S1 but this was from behind my head... I think. I don't usually chase rattles down as they come and go but this was annoying. I'm thinking it's the rear screen and just needs a bit of sticky-back foam.
I also picked up an elemental shower cover, I don't intend to use the roof now for a few months so I will use the cover to stop any dust in the garage going on the interior. Not it's intended use but will prevent me hoovering the most awkward interior ever produced!
I also picked up an elemental shower cover, I don't intend to use the roof now for a few months so I will use the cover to stop any dust in the garage going on the interior. Not it's intended use but will prevent me hoovering the most awkward interior ever produced!
With all the dry weather over the last month this should of been a great time to own a Lotus... but not in my case, my Elise had encountered the well known acronym HGF 
I was due to go to Wales earlier in the month, just before bed I went in the garage to check the fluids and take the cape off ready for an early start. Checking the water level I noticed the dreaded mayo, not much but enough to make me book it in for a new gasket.
The phone pic shows the horror that most K Series owners fear
Needless to say the car stayed put until it went to Phoenix Motorsport for the head work.
Whilst the car was sat in the garage waiting for surgery I fixed the rattling rear window, three pieces of sticky backed foam solved the problem and proved that not all jobs on these cars are a t
t!
The car was dropped off and a 'mini' C service done (belt, oil, coolant) all with the new gasket and associated head skim. When I bought the car I had been assured that it was still on the original gasket, this was confirmed when the work was undertaken and the improved gasket and dowels now used.
In fairness, HGF was kind of inevitable and you would be mad to think running a near twenty year old car would be trouble free.
As in most cases when I can't determine when I use the car, it pd it down on the way home so it was a steady journey watching the temperature and rain coming in on my leg!
The car ran well, temperature on the stack was consistent and the water level settled correct when warmed up.
A good clean at the weekend and a little drive out earlier on dry roads and it's back to running spot on.
Seeing as I missed a blast to Wales a couple of weeks back, I think earned one this weekend coming up
I was due to go to Wales earlier in the month, just before bed I went in the garage to check the fluids and take the cape off ready for an early start. Checking the water level I noticed the dreaded mayo, not much but enough to make me book it in for a new gasket.
The phone pic shows the horror that most K Series owners fear
Needless to say the car stayed put until it went to Phoenix Motorsport for the head work.
Whilst the car was sat in the garage waiting for surgery I fixed the rattling rear window, three pieces of sticky backed foam solved the problem and proved that not all jobs on these cars are a t
t!The car was dropped off and a 'mini' C service done (belt, oil, coolant) all with the new gasket and associated head skim. When I bought the car I had been assured that it was still on the original gasket, this was confirmed when the work was undertaken and the improved gasket and dowels now used.
In fairness, HGF was kind of inevitable and you would be mad to think running a near twenty year old car would be trouble free.
As in most cases when I can't determine when I use the car, it p
d it down on the way home so it was a steady journey watching the temperature and rain coming in on my leg!The car ran well, temperature on the stack was consistent and the water level settled correct when warmed up.
A good clean at the weekend and a little drive out earlier on dry roads and it's back to running spot on.
Seeing as I missed a blast to Wales a couple of weeks back, I think earned one this weekend coming up
Tickle said:
Seeing as I missed a blast to Wales a couple of weeks back, I think earned one this weekend coming up
If your route takes you close to the Ponderosa mid morning on Sunday look out for half a dozen TVRs in the car park as I and some mates have a fatboy breakfast. In fact, drop in and I'll buy you a cuppa!At least you caught the HGF early-the job is much easier when the engine hasn’t overheated and there’s no massive globs of Rover sick to clear up! It amazes me how they stay together at all with the crappy plastic dowels used from the factory...
I’m over in Wales/Anglesey for a trackday on the weekend of 16/17th June if you fancy a meet up, drive about around north Wales and a coffee?
I’m over in Wales/Anglesey for a trackday on the weekend of 16/17th June if you fancy a meet up, drive about around north Wales and a coffee?
TR4man said:
If your route takes you close to the Ponderosa mid morning on Sunday look out for half a dozen TVRs in the car park as I and some mates have a fatboy breakfast. In fact, drop in and I'll buy you a cuppa!
If I head back over the Horseshoe I will pop in, cheers. Will keep an eye/ear out for the TVRs. I think I will be home for 10 ish though.
itcaptainslow said:
At least you caught the HGF early-the job is much easier when the engine hasn’t overheated and there’s no massive globs of Rover sick to clear up! It amazes me how they stay together at all with the crappy plastic dowels used from the factory...
I’m over in Wales/Anglesey for a trackday on the weekend of 16/17th June if you fancy a meet up, drive about around north Wales and a coffee?
That was my thinking, get it sorted before things got hot and warped. The stack temp never gave clues to it going though, but as said it was early stages. The engines are good but just let down by daft little corners being cut when designed/manufactured... just like the plastic cars they reside in!I’m over in Wales/Anglesey for a trackday on the weekend of 16/17th June if you fancy a meet up, drive about around north Wales and a coffee?
Bugger, I will be in North Wales on the 16th but will be on Snowdon finishing the 3 Peaks challenge. Let me know if you are over again. Enjoy your trackday and drive to
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